Do wines improve with age

A.� The days of wine makers producing wines for long cellaring are almost over. More sources and new technology mean that wines tend to be fruity and drinkable�soon after they are bottled. Wine producers sell wines they expect to be drunk within days, if not hours. As a rule of thumb, any wines costing less than �8.99 per bottle is going to be in peak condition when you buy it. White wines lose their freshness after a few months home storage and reds rarely improve. If a wine costs more than about �10, it's worth checking with the wine merchant selling it.

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Q.� Does the term premier cru, that you see on French wine bottles, mean anything

A.� The term means first growth in France and premier cru is a classification award given to�wines that are considered superior quality - generally these are more expensive. They are appellation controlee wines that are one step down from grand cru, the top rating. The premier cru appellation is applied in Burgundy and Bordeaux notably, where it's the vineyards themselves that have been awarded this quality recognition. Properties producing these wines have the right to label the wines premier cru along with the commune areas, for example, Chateau Latour, AC Pauillac.

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Q.� So the quality ratings generally denote the wine's vintage

A.� In very general terms, it helps the connoisseur determine quality and, therefore, price. French wines have quality indications on the label, better know as AOC (appellation d'origine controllee). These mean the wine has passed a series of quality controls before sale. Italy, Spain, Germany and many other countries have similar systems, but some wine experts say these systems are flawed and wines can 'slip through the net.' The best way for a consumer to know what is in the bottle is to learn the names of reliable shippers and producers.

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Q.� How can you determine a wine's history from the bottle

A.� The wine label is the key to working out a wine's history and what you are likely to find in the bottle. Some wines have wonderful labels on the reverse indicating the wine's flavour, which food it works well with, and how it should be stored. France uses labels that are more complex. The appellation controlee (AC) classification systems used throughout France sets out certain legal requirements for quality wines from specific places, and on top of this, famous chateaux producing exceptional wines, particularly Bordeaux and Burgundy, have a cru rating. French appellations apply to a specific region, and area system, and producers have to meet requirements to label their wines with protected names, for example, Cotes du Rhone Villages appellation states the wine must have been produced within the designated area (any of the 16 villages in the Southern Rhone district).

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Q.� What do you look out for on the really good French wine bottles

A.� The words Appellation d'Origine Controllee (AOC/AC). The official category for the top French wines. It indicates a producer must have adhered to strict requirements in production. These include the location of the vineyard and the yield of the grapes, the wine-making process and the alcoholic strength of the wine.� These wines are regularly subjected to a tasting test by the INAO (Institute Nationale des Appellations d'Origine) to ensure the quality is maintained.

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Q. How much would a vintage bottle of wine cost

A.� It depends, obviously on the label and age. A bottle of 1870 Chateau Lafite, with an embossed wax seal, will sell for around �2,000; a 1919 Chateau Barbe Brivazac with a good label, will set you back �90.

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Q.� What's the best Shiraz to lay down

A.� Southern Australiia has produced some particularly good Shiraz that will keep for a number of years. It's difficult to generalise, but for most wine makers 1998 was a particularly good vintage and these wines should keep for up to 10 years and will improve with age. The 1996/ 1997 vintages were also good. These wines can be drunk now but would benefit from a couple of years ageing.

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By Katharine MacColl

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